Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-11
THE CROPS.
AUGUST REPORT OF THE OUTLOOK l.
THE UNITED srArEs.
Cereals Good, but injured by Drought III
West-Tobacco Fine, but Small Area
Planted Cotton flourishing.
Try ieleprnph to the Dlspatch.l


WASHINGTON, ID. c., August lO.-rhe
following is the August report OF the
Department of Agriculture
fereats.-The prospect month ago
WAS for very heavy crop of corn, ana
rate of yield about the average; its
condition in oil States of the Atlantic
coast is now unimpaired and OF very
high promise. In texas and tennes-
see the conditions have declined mate
rally. In the central corn region, now,
ever. in the valleys Of OHIO and
Missouri. where two thirds OF the crop
is grown and the commercial supply Is
procured. very heavy reduction mas
taken place, which has made the NJ
tional average s0.7 instead OF J|l last
month. The cause is the long con
tinued drought, which has been the
severest in Kansas, Illinois, Indiana
Ohio, and Michigan. Nebraska has
been scorched on her southern border,
and Iowa and Missouri have escaped
with comparatively light loss, as have
more northern States. The seven corn
surplus States stand as follows: Ono,
81 Indiana, 81; Illinois, % Iowa
90; Missouri, SO; Kansas, GU; Ne
braska, 70.
THE WHEAT AND OATS CROPS.
The condition Of spring wheat, re-
ported very low last month from the
rayages OF chinchbugs, Is not i'm
proved in the August returns, but has
fallen off very slightly, the general
average being 7S.o-two points less
than the August returns last year. Da-
kota has made a slight gain and stands
highest in condition. The average for
Wisconsin Is 73; Minnesota, II; iowa,
Y Nebraska, II; Dakota, SS. In the
extreme East and on the Pacific coast
the condition of spring wheat IS high.
There is no report OF winter wheat Tor
the present month, as it is too carly to
obtain results of threshing. In the oats
crop there is no change. A part OF the
breadth was harvested at the last re-
port. The condition averages S).6,
which indicates that the crop Will be
slightly under the average.
THE BARLEY CROP
promises TO Weld rather better than was
feared last month. Eastern product
averages are higher, but the condition
is reduced slightly since the last report.
The average Is $50, Indicating nearly
an average yield.
TIE BUCKWHEAT AREA
appears to be practically the same as
last year, and averages about 80 III con-
ditiOn.
| POTATOES.
There is great reduction since the LIST
of July in the condition of potatoes
almost entirely the result OF drought.
There is no material decline on the At
lantic or Gulf coast, but the injury Is
severe in the West. The loss during
the month as reported Is fully 20 per
cent. OF the prospective crop.
THE FRUIT CROP
is very poor. There will be few apples
outside Of New England and New York.
There will be n partial crop in Michl-
gan. I'm the Ohio river States the hAr-
vest will be nearly a failure.
HAY.
The hay crop is SO greatly reduced
in the West that the general average Is
90.
COTTON.
The past month has been favorable
to cotton except that the rainfall has
been unequally distributed in point OF
time. the drought threatening at one
period aud damaging floods following.
in the eastern belt the excess Of moist
IRE predominatos as the factor OF de-
preciation. He weed is therefore
large and sappy, and fruitfall appears
in some fields seriously, and IN some
cases rust appears In Louisiana SINH
lar conditions have prevailed, and very
partially in Mississippi. Texas has been
too dry, though the drought has not rs
vet been disastrous or severe. The
prevalent status OF the crops IS very
GOOD for the first OF August, while the
reporters recognize this as the critical
time, and fear the effect OF the suisse
quent drought upon the green and sue
culent condition of the plant. mcom-
pariscn of ten years the August condi-
lion is only exceeded by that OF 1882
and 1885, one producing large crop,
the other an under-medium yield. The
general average condition Is J3.3, which
is lower by over three points than that
of July. The State averages are Nlr-
ginia, "a B.; North Carolina, SIS; South
Carolina, 95 Georgia, 81 ; Florida, - (;
Alabama, 93; Mississippi, 96; Louis
lana, "a; Texas, 81; Arkansas, ~ 1;
Tennessee, IS. The first brood OF
caterpillars has appeared in several
States, but is not generally mentioned
in returns. 1t is reported in Orange
burg and Berkely, 5. c. ; in Calhoun,
Taylor, Dolly, and Laurens, Ga. in
Hale and Dallas, Ala. in Starkey, New
ton. Issaquena, and Oktibbeha, Miss ;
in Red River, Bossier Rlchland, Match
itoches, and lberville, La, and in Ste
phens's Camp aud Jackson, Tex. The
boll-worm is much less frequently men
toned.
TOBACCO.
The tobacco crop is in high condition,
in the soed-leaf States averaging nearly
lGO, except in Wisconsin. The ship
ping and cutting districts OF the West
make an unprecedented report OF low
condition. Tennessee 70, Kentucky
80, Ohio So, Indiana So, Illinois %,
Missouri co. In view of the heavy re
duction in acreage only small frag
ment Of the usual crop may be ex
pected. The official investigation o.
area now in progress will determine
authoritatively the breadth cultivated
; the yresent year.
General Custis Lee Improving.
Especial telegram TO the Dispatcn.l